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The church is a fine building and its stained glass is remarkable for the consistency of its design. Most of the windows were made in the studios of Ballantine and Allen of Edinburgh. Where the appearance of most churches has evolved over many centuries, St John the Evangelist offers a concentrated view of largely Nineteenth century Scottish style and design.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17646 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16630
Only a portion of the entire holding can be shown at any one time. Accordingly a selection is rotated periodically, with special exhibitions mounted in the Dean Gallery, where there is, in addition, a permanent show of the work of Eduardo Paolozzi - a local hero with an international reputation.

Entry is free. The galleries have shops, selling scholarly material as well as postcards and gifts, and the Cafe Newton in the Dean Gallery is particularly attractive, with good food at sensible prices. The staff at both galleries are welcoming and helpful.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16630 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15945
The gardens in particular are delightful and anyone interested in growing vegetables as well as flowers will be thrilled by the extensive collections of plants set out in formal and ornamental beds surrounding this beautiful Loire chateau.

The buildings and gardens were rescued by Dr Joachim Carvallo in 1906 and have been in the care of his family ever since. Excellent shop and grounds with good access for people with mobility difficulties.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15945 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15695
Highlights include an outstanding group of Italian, French and Flemish paintings from the later Middle Ages donated by a local benefactor, a group that has been strengthened by the addition of two panels by Mantegna. Other very good pieces come from succeeding centuries and include work by Rubens, Rembrandt, Boucher, Monet and Rodin. Altogether this is a first rate collection. The museum is set in a fine garden, and nearby is a huge 200-year-old Cedar of Lebanon.

Across from this tree and behind glass there is a stuffed elephant, once part of Barnum's Circus. This beast died while the circus visited Tours, just before World War I, and was promptly de-boned, stuffed and mounted. The result on show here is somewhat bizarre and looks like a very large, grey, hot-water bottle with four legs and a trunk. Worth a look, but the museum is the highlight.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15695 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15622
There is a good museum shop with mementoes as well as scholarly material. Much of the town centre is pedestrianised and there is a large number of good hotels, restaurants and bars. Parking is plentiful.

The place is usually busy at peak holiday times but it can accommodate large numbers of visitors. Go out of the main season if you want it more or less to yourself.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15622 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15609
The place is very beautiful, highly evocative and thoroughly well maintained. Everywhere you look, the paintings Monet created between 1883 up to his death are marvellously brought to life.

The inevitable shop, which is housed in the painter's former studio, where the huge waterlily paintings were made, is worthwhile and comprehensive. There are extensive free car parks nearby.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15609 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13846
The buildings associated with the writer - Brown's Hotel, the boathouse, and others - are well preserved without having been put in mothballs, and the entire place is a pleasure to visit, not least because the dead hand of the heritage industry has been largely kept off.

There are lots of good places to eat and drink, many of them offering local dishes and brews. There is also a very good second-hand bookshop.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13846 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13447
It has an outstanding range of work from the late Middle Ages up to the end of the 18th century. Highlights include paintings by Van Eyck, Durer, Cranach, Raphael, Titian and Rembrandt.

You can buy a day ticket costing 12 euro for this and all the other galleries and museums in and close to the Zwinger. Very good value considering the range and quality of the collections included in the price. Audio guides in English. Note that the modern art gallery (19/20th centuries) is closed for refurbishment until 2008.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13447 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13417
The tables outside are crowded from about seven o'clock on, but there seems always to be room, and the atmosphere is welcoming and cheerful.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13417 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13416
Food and drink are served (at very reasonable prices), and some trips are feature Dixieland jazz bands.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13416 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13414
It shows treasures of the Saxony royal house - in particular, decorative objects and jewellery from about 1650 to 1800.

The design of the museum combines the modern with settings appropriate to the period of the exhibits.

All signs are in German and English.

A visit here would interest both old and young.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13414 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13413
The city skyline has been meticulously restored to its late 18th century appearance, and the area around Theaterplatz, the Zwinger (the old royal palace) and the Opera is magnificent.

Dresden is well worth seeing.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13413 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13202
Its interiors are magnificent and show a range of works of art, including the national portrait collection. Beautiful gardens outside.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13202 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13122 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13122 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13115 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13115 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13110
The ticket machines for the Metro were generally not working and there were vast queues for the one booth that seemed to be open. Indeed, queueing seemed to be imposed upon all visitors who wished to see any of the city's sights. Moreover, if you had a mobility difficulty, such as being confined to a wheelchair, you could forget a place like the Forum, which required climbing gear to explore it - so steep were the steps. There was litter everywhere.

In contrast Vatican City appeared well cared for and receptive to visitors. I wondered how much of the money made from visitors to Rome was being fed back into the conservation of monuments and improvements in facilities. I visited Rome for the first time in March 2006, and I would be interested to know if more recent visitors have seen progress in these respects.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13110 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13105
The Priory now houses a small but good collection of French art from the period 1880 to 1940, including Symbolism and Post Impressionism, especially the work of the Pont Aven artists and the Nabis.

The gardens are very beautiful and show sculpture by Bourdelle and Maillol. It's a quiet and contemplative sort of place except when the primary schools are in for an afternoon of art.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13105 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13103
If you like landscape, interiors and small genre painting, this is a good place to visit. The house is around the back of the main national gallery and across a small park.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13103 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13075
The fjord is a short walk down the hill and has an extensive museum and boatbuilding yard where traditional Viking longships are made and sailed before your very eyes.

When I visited the place it was swarming with tiny children all done up in lifejackets enthusiastically climbing aboard these craft and setting sail, under expert supervision. The Vikings are evidently still keen.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13075 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13074
Like the other countries in Scandinavia, Sweden's painters especially loved landcape and nature, and there are many beautiful examples of this kind of work. The murals on the grand staircase are by Carl Larsson.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13074